Even though it's not newly published, it seems like the revised second edition of Beowulf and the Critics received too little attention (IIRC, I haven't seen it announced on any of the Tolkien-related websites I usually visit).

I suspect most of the folk here at TCG have already picked up the news, but I guess it won't hurt to help Professor Drout with some advertisement:

A typical sturdy university hardcover book, if you know what I mean. Hardcover without dustjacket. Glossy finish. I'd say that the overall feeling and quality of the book is similar to The Lord of the Rings 1954-2004 (edited by Hammond and Scull), although the former is a tad larger.

(Aesthetic note: I would personally have chosen a font in a lighter colour for the cover - it's a bit hard to read the text on the spine, especially in a dark environment.)

Contents:

Question: "I have the first edition - why would I want this?"Answer: The new edition includes corrections and new material:

This is a completely corrected, revised and expanded edition. The expansions include the text of a previously unknown note by Tolkien that was part of the drafting of Beowulf and the Critics (found by Christopher Tolkien and included with his permission in this volume), an identification of all the voices in the "Babel of Voices" allegory, and a discussion and illustration of the structural evolution of "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics." The corrections are thoroughgoing: I proofed the entire thing against the microfilm (my reading of Tolkien's handwriting has inexplicably gotten better) and received help from many scholars as well.

I've no idea how much the first edition would even cost (I've not noted that many for sale) --does it fetch quite a bit? Either way, I'd quite like to re-read it, so I may buy this newer edition. Thanks for the recommendation Morgan.

BH

Posted on: 2012/3/13 15:08

_________________You drive a hard bargain – you can have it for £10 all-in – one consolation (for you) is that you do not have to hear the cries of my children, for bread...